Doorstop



Jan. 11,1944 H. o. BRENzlKoFER 12,338,899

Doon s'ToP Filed May 26, 1941 v i a "\\\"l A v 7 MW J n .M Z wml a .mwww@ Y ...551.53 .f

Patented Jan. 11, 1944 UNETED STATES P TENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention is a stop of the type adapted for horizontal projectionfrom a wall or baseboard for abutment by a swinging door so that impactis axially of the stop.

It is an object of the invention to provide a stop 'which issubstantially rigid responsive to said axial imp-act, so as to provide apositive stop for the swinging door; but which is resiliently flexibleresponsive tc impact transversely of the stop, so as to readily yield inthe event of being laterally struck.

It is a further object of the invention to provide substantial rigidityresponsive to said axial impact but with some resiliency at the extremeouter end of the stop, so as to cushion initial impact by the door andthen positively arrest its swinging movement.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide resilientflexibility responsive to impact transversely of the stop, with aresiliently yieldable surface cushioning initial transverse impact andthe entire stop then adapted to swing laterally responsive to saidtransverse impact.

The projecting stop thus cushions and then positively arrests a swingingdoor or other movable element, and in the event of being accidentallylaterally struck, e. g. by a person, furniture, hoor-cleaning equipment,etc., the Stop initially cushions such transverse impact and then yieldslaterally.

Further objects of the invention will be readily understood froin thefollowing description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the invention,v

partly in axial section.

Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections on the lines 2-2 and 3 3respectively of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in axial section, showing amodification of the invention.

The stop comprises a base I adapted for mounting on a wall, baseboard,etc., and having a horiaontally projecting shank 2. The outer end of theshank is adapted for abutment by a swinging door or other movableelement, with this impact axially of the shank; and the outer end of theshank is preferably adapted t0 cushion initial axial impact while themajor portion of the shank is substantially rigid responsive to saidaxial impact. The shank is also adapted to laterally resiliently flex inthe event of accidental transverse impact, and the outer surface of theshank preferably cushions initial transverse impact.

As an instance, the shank includes a helical spring 3, preferably ofspring Wire, having a i base.

normally straight axis extending substantially the 'full length of theshank 2, with successive coils of the spring normally substantiallyabutting axially of the spring. The spring is thus normally atsubstantially maximum compression providing a positive stop responsiveto axial impact; but 'responsive to transverse impact the spring isadapted for relative flexing of its coils lor laterally-swinging thespring.

The end of the spring 3 which is at the inner end of the shank 2 isfixed to the base I, with the spring projecting horizontally from thebase. For this purpose, the base is preferably a rigid structure ofmetal or the like having attaching means such as a screw Il projectingfrom one face; and the opposite face of the base is preferably1concentrically annularly recessed as shown at with this annular recesssurrounding a stud 5 which projects integrally rrom the The inner end ofthe helical spring 3 is received in the recess 5, and may be fixed.therein by laterally expanding the stud l for clamping engagement withthe spring.

To permit this lateral expansion of the stud fr, its outer end. ispreferably transversely weakened, e. g. by axially recessing the outerend of the stud as shown at l. When the spring is in place a punch toolmay be inserted via the bore of the spring so that the inner end of thetool seats in the recess I and the outer end of the tool is accessiblebeyond the outer end of the spring l'or operating the tool, e. g.striking the same, so as to laterally expand the weakened outer end ofthe stud l.

The shank 2 preferably also includes a cushioning sleeve 8 of rubber orthe like, providing a peripheral cushion 9 and an outer end cushion I0for the spring 3. After the spring has been fixed in place projectingoutwardly from the base I, and preferably with an abutment cap II at theouter end of the spring, the cushioning sleeve may be molded in placewith the molded rubber filling the bore and surrounding the spring andalso projecting radially and axially beyond the cap II, preferably witha reinforcing annulus I2 embedded in the periphery of the end cushionIt. The inner end of the sleeve 8 is molded to the outer face oi thebase I, preferably with the outer face of the base forming a concavesurface I3 surrounding the annular recess 5 and preferably recessed, e.g. by concentric grooves I4, soA as to provide retaining means for thecomplemental inner end of the molded cushioning sleeve.

The surface I3 and the proximate inner end of the peripheral cushion 9preferably have appreciable radial dimension, and the peripheral cushionpreferably tapers to reduced thickness toward its outer end where itmerges into the radial enlargement of the end cushion l0. The radialthickness at the inner end of the sleeve 8 thus laterally reinforces thespring 3 Where it initially projects from the base I, so that responsiveto transverse impact the shank 2 is adapted to laterally resilientlyflex, without abrupt lexure immediately adjacent the base l as mightresult in permanent lateral distortion of the spring 3, but withgradually increasing lateral nexufre toward the extreme outer end ofvthe shank,

The base l of the stop is operatively mounted by its screw 4 so that itsshank 2 projects in direction for abutment by the element such as a doorfor which the stop is provided, with the parts relatively positioned sothat this abutment results in impact axially of the stop. The spring 3being normally at substantially maximum axial compression provides apositive stop responsive to this axial impact, with the impactpreferably initially cushioned at l il. The stop is thus adapted fornormal functioning.

In the event of the stop being accidentally laterally struck it readilyyields so as to prevent injury to a person, or marring furniture, ordamaging equipment such as a vacuum cleaner. Rel sponsive to suchtransverse impact the outer end of the shank 2 swings laterally relativeto its fixed inner end, with gradually increasing curvature along theaxis of the shank toward its outer end and with the impact preferablyinitially cushioned at S; and when the sha-nk has been swung so as todisengage whatever has caused the transverse impact it immediatelyreturns to its normal position due to the resiliency of its spring 3 andits cushioning sleeve 8. The stop, in addition to its normal functioningresponsive to axial impact, is thus adapted to readily swing laterallyout of the Way responsive to transverse impact.

While specifically described as a stop for a swinging door, with thestop mounted on a wall or baseboard, it will be understood that the stopis generally applicable for relatively movable elements, with the stopprojecting from either element and adapted for axial impact forarresting said relative movement and also adapted to swing laterally outof the way responsive to accidental transverse impact.

At Fig. e a modification is shown in which the cushioning sleeve isdetachably mounted on the spring instead of being molded thereto. Theconstruction and operation is the same as previously described (withcorresponding parts indi'- cated by the same reference numerals with theexponent a), except for the following modications:

The cushioning sleeve 3a has a bore which is open at the inner end ofthe sleeve, with the abutment cap Ha embedded in the sleeve at theclosed opposite end of its bore; and after the spring 3a has been i-lxedin place projecting from the base la the cushioning sleeve is adaptedfor snug reception over the spring, with the cap Ha abutting the outerend of the spring, and with the inner end of the cushioning sleevedetachably fixed to the base la. This detachable connection preferablycomprises an external annular ange and groove 2li- 2| at the peripheryof the base la, adapted for resiliently detachable enga-gement by acooperating annular groove and internal ange at the inner end of thesleeve 8a.

I claim:

1. In a stop for relatively movable elements, a base adapted to be nxedto one of said elements and having a projecting stud and annular recesssurrounding the stud at the outer face of the base, and a helical springhaving one end snugly received in the annular recess with the majorportion of the spring projecting outwardly from the base for axialimpact by the other of said elements, the stud being adapted for radialexpansion for clamping the inner end of the spring in the annularrecess.

2. In a stop for relatively movable elements, a base adapted to be iixedto one of said elements and having a projecting stud and an annular recess surrounding the stud at the outer face of the base, and a shankadapted for axial impact by the other of said elements and comprising ahelical spring and a sleeve of resilient material, the spring beingnormally at substantially maximum axial compression with one end of thespring received in the annular recess so that the major portion of thespring projects outwardly from the base, the stud being adapted forradial expansion for clamping the inner end of the spring in 'theannular recess, and the resilient sleeve surrounding the periphery andthe outer end of the spring and iixed at its inner end to the base.

3. In a stop, a base, a projecting helical spring fixed at its innerend. to the base, an abutment cap overlying the outer end of the spring,and a shank of resilient material surrounding the spring and .theabutment cap and iixed at its inner end to the base.

HARRY O. BRENZIKOFER.

